South Africa is to spend R24-billion over two years to buy HIV/Aids drugs for public hospitals, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said yesterday.
Speaking at an Aspen Pharmacare manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth, Davies said the government aims to buy 75% of the drugs from local manufacturers.
“We are on the cusp of a very important tender worth R24-billion by the Department of Health which is for the procurement of antiretrovirals for 2015,” he said.
In 2012 South Africa awarded a $667-million two-year contract to pharmaceutical companies, including Aspen and America-based Abbott Laboratories.
Aspen, which secured about a third of that contract, will also be bidding this year.
CEO Stephen Saad said Aspen was aiming for a share of more than 50% this time…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
